Objective The policy on postgraduate education in traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） plays a critical role in guiding the improvement and efficiency of medical education. From the perspective of policy analysis， this study investigates the selection and application of policy tools in TCM graduate education to support the sustainable development of this field. Methods A total of 57 policy documents on TCM graduate education issued in China between 1980 and 2022 were analyzed based on the theory of policy tools. The study utilizes a two-dimensional analysis framework， examining policy tools （X-axis） and policy fields （Y-axis）， to explore the development process， selection， and application of policy tools in TCM graduate education. Results The analysis shows a lack of specialized policies and a need for greater synergy among policy actors. Command-based tools dominate， which limits the efficiency of policy execution， while advisory tools are underutilized， displaying some degree of path dependence. The frequent use of system change tools indicates a shift in decision-making logic from educational management to governance. Conclusion Three recommendations are proposed： （1） optimize the combination and configuration of policy tools to improve their operability； （2） ensure balanced development across policy themes， with a focus on emerging hot topics； and （3） shift the value orientation from prioritizing efficiency to enhancing quality.